Tom Watson In Position To Win First Senior Open

By Stuart Hall

Kohler, Wis. - Tom Watson wanted to hear the winds whistle at The Straits Course.

So after somewhat docile breezes made for decent scoring conditions in the opening two rounds, winds of up to 25 miles per hour swirled about Whistling Straits during Saturday's third round of the U.S. Senior Open.

"This is what I wanted. And this is what I got," Watson said. "And fortunately, I struggled through with a 1-over-par round."

Despite the 73, Watson did not lose any of the three-stroke lead he held through 36 holes. Watson, 57, and seeking his first U.S. Senior Open title after three runner-up finishes, sits at 7-under 209, three shots ahead of Loren Roberts (1-over 73) at 4-under 212.

John Ross (70), Scotland's Sam Torrance (71) and Argentina's Vincente Fernandez (74) are at 3-under 213, while another half dozen players - including

Senior PGA Championship winner Denis Watson of Zimbabwe - are at 2-under 214.

"Unless [Tom Watson] was going to run away with it, we were all going to get back into it with a half-decent day," Torrance said.

Tom Watson, a five-time British Open champion who continues to find Whistling Straits a vexing puzzle with each